Lost Weekend Records Power Pop Happy Hour @ Ace of Cups June 3rd - by Scott Carr

On Friday June 3rd I will be guest-DJ'ing the Lost Weekend Records Record Store Happy Hour at Ace Of Cups. My Lost Weekend co-worker Brian Baker will be joining me in what we hope will be the ultimate 2 1/2 hours of Power Pop bliss. Brian and I have been digging through our record collections and pulling out what we think will represent the best mix of our favorite music genre....

Power Pop's roots can be traced back to the British Invasion of the early 60's when bands like The Who and The Kinks popped onto the scene. Songs like The Who's "My Generation" and The Kinks' "You Really Got Me" are some of the earliest examples of Power Pop, although at the time the genre did not exist. These songs have tight punchy guitars and well-defined vocal melodies, two ingredients that are essential to the best power pop. The heyday of Power Pop began in the early 70's with bands like Badfinger, Raspberries and Big Star releasing very influential albums. The evolution of Power Pop would continue throughout the 70's and 80's with bands like Cheap Trick, The Cars, The Knack, Shoes, and many others. All of these bands put their own stamp on Power Pop and stretched the boundaries of what Power Pop was. The umbrella of Power Pop has come to include elements of new wave, bubblegum, glam, garage rock, punk and continues to thrive and expand on it's original concept.

Power Pop is a music genre that doesn't get a lot of attention but has a die-hard fan base and is, as my deejay co-host Brian Baker recently said, endless and infinite. 

The Lost Weekend Records Power Pop Happy Hour will take place on Friday, June 3rd at Ace of Cups, located at 2619 N. High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43202.  The event will start at 6 pm and run until about 8;30 pm.

I thought I would take this opportunity to share some of my favorite Power Pop tunes as a preview of what you will be hearing on June 3rd.  

Scott Carr is a guitarist who plays in the Columbus, OH  bands Radio Tramps and Returning April.  Scott is also an avid collector of vinyl records and works at Lost Weekend Records. So...if you are looking for Scott....you'll either find him in a dimly lit bar playing his guitar or in a record store digging for the holy grail.

1. Raspberries - Play On

This song comes from Starting Over, the last studio record from Raspberries. Bassist Scott McCarl takes lead vocals on this track and proves he is a perfect fit for Raspberries. McCarl joined Raspberries after original bassist Dave Smalley exited the band the previous year.

I'm a big fan of the Raspberries. This song was written by Eric Carmen and Scott McCarl, and I believe Scott is singing lead as well (fellow 'berries fans let me know if I'm correct). The track is from their final studio album "Starting Over" released in 1974.

2. Paul Stanley - Wouldn't You Like To Know Me

While Paul Stanley is best known for writing arena rock anthems with Kiss, he somehow managed to perfectly craft one of the best Power Pop tunes of all time or at least that is what Colin G. thinks. This track appears on his 1978 solo album and stands as one of the best songs Paul has ever penned. Paul has said that the Raspberries were a big influence in the early days of Kiss and it rings through on this track.

The 4th song off of the Paul Stanley SOLO Album, which was originally released in 1978.

3. The Knack - Radiating Love

It was tempting to put "My Sharona" here but everyone has heard that one before, correct? So I present you with the opening track from the bands third album Round Trip. As catchy as anything the band ever recorded and listen to that thumping bass line. The guitar solo is quite tasty too.

Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group Radiating Love (2002 Digital Remaster) · The Knack · Doug Fieger · Berton Averre Round Trip ℗ 1981, 2002 Capitol Records, LLC. All rights reserved. Studio Personnel: Ron McMaster Producer: Jack Douglas Auto-generated by YouTube.

4. Sweeney Todd - Tantalize

This track leans a bit more towards the glam side of power pop but it's hooks and harmonies cannot be denied. One of the more interesting facts about this song is the lead vocals are no other than a 15 year old Bryan Adams. Yes "Cuts Like A Knife" Bryan Adams.

If Wishes Were Horses is the second album of the Canadian glam rock band Sweeney Todd. Released in 1977, it is the only Sweeney Todd album on which a 15 year old Bryan Adams appears as the temporary singer. The producers deliberately sped his voice up to sound younger than it already was.

5. Aviary - Anthem For The USA

Hard to believe that this song was released in 1979! Aviary are a west coast band that released one album for Epic records during their time in the major leagues. Mixing their pop with a bit of prog Aviary created a sound that was way ahead of it's time.

from the self titled debut (USA, 1979) Brad Love --vocals, keyboards Toby Bowen -- guitars Paul Madden -- keyboards Ken Steimonts -- bass Richard Bryans - drums

6. The Spongetones - She Goes Out With Everybody

Hailing from Charlotte, NC but sounding more Beatley than The Beatles on this infectious song. Perfect example of Beatle inspired Power Pop.

Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises She Goes out with Everybody · The Spongetones Always Carry On: The Best If the Spongetones 1980-2005 ℗ 2008 Loaded Goat Records Released on: 2006-04-09 Auto-generated by YouTube.

7. Any Trouble - Growing Up

Bruce Springsteen isn't the first name you think of when talking about power pop but after listening to Any Trouble's fantastic cover of "Growing Up" you may change your mind. Any Trouble gives "Growing Up" a complete power pop makeover and it works perfectly. It should also be noted that Springsteen jammed on stage with The Knack, so maybe the Boss is more in tune with Power Pop than given credit for.

Often compared (favourably) to the nervy, hyper-literate pop of Elvis Costello (at the time a new phenomenon), Any Trouble really had a bit more of the Joe Jackson sound to them; but for my money their debut album, Where Are All the Nice Girls, bests either of Jackson's most similar -and admittedly great- first two albums. Led by Clive Gregson, Any Trouble's debut is full of catchy breakneck Stiff pop that stands up to anything else from the era.

8. The Searchers - September Girls

It's pretty hard to beat Big Star's original version of "September Girls" but The Searchers do mighty fine job. The Searchers were among the original British Invasion bands and had great success during the early to mid 60's. A reformed version of the band released two magnificent power pop tinged albums in the late 70's early 80's. This version of "September Girls" comes from their 1981 album Love's Melodies.

The Searchers - September Gurls (Big Star cover) The Sire Sessions, Rockfield Recordings 1979-80

9. Off Broadway - Automatic

Coming from the same state that brought us the undisputed kings of power pop Cheap Trick, Off Broadway are a relatively unknown band but they managed to release two excellent records for Atlantic Records. "Automatic" is the opening track from the bands second release Quick Turns. A perfect blend of hooky guitars and a great vocal melody. This track in particular reminds me of another band from Illinois that was more associated with the glam metal scene of the late 80's but were a great Power Pop band in their own right, Enuff Z' Nuff.

Here I am with Off Broadway - Automatic

10. The Quick - It Won't Be Long

This Los Angeles based power pop band released a terrific record on Mercury Records called Mondo Deco in 1976 and not long after that they were gone. The Quick gets credit for doing a Beatles cover that is actually better than the original and that's not easily done. They manged to make "It Won't Be Long" completely their own and it's amazing. 

More than likely the best Beatles cover ever. At least the first one I feel comfortable saying is better than the original. This is the first track on their only full-length album 'Mondo Deco'.

THIS MONTH IN ROCK 'N ROLL HISTORY: THE KNACK / GET THE KNACK - BY SCOTT CARR

June 15, 1979 - The Knack released one of the fastest selling debut albums in history. Get The Knack sold over a million copies in just two months and would spend five weeks at the number one spot on Billboards album charts. 

The Knack are viewed as an overnight success, but in reality were one of the hardest-working bands in the business and had more than paid their dues. Singer/guitarist Doug Fieger cut his teeth with the Michigan-based power trio Sky in the early 70's.  Sky released two records for RCA, Don't Hold Back and Sailor's Delight. Rolling Stones producer Jimmy Miller signed Sky to RCA after Doug Fieger had invited him to come see the band play. Miller would also produce both records for the band. Sky did not achieve much commercial success and broke up after the release of their second record. Doug Fieger relocated to Los Angeles where he met the guy that would become his songwriting partner for the next thirty plus years: that guy was guitarist Berton Averre. Doug and Berton began writing and demoing songs in 1973. Some of these songs would make their way onto The Knack's debut album and others remained in the vaults until the release of 2012's Rock & Roll Is Good for You: The Fieger/Averre Demos. Drummer Bruce Gary and bassist Prescott Niles would eventually join the band and The Knack made their live debut on June 1st 1978 at the Whisky A Go-Go in Los Angeles.  

After having their demos rejected by dozens of record labels The Knack took to the clubs, began a relentless string of shows and quickly became one of the hottest tickets in town. Word was spreading about the band and people like Bruce Springsteen, Stephen Stills, Tom Petty and Ray Manzarek began turning out for shows. Not only were these guys coming to shows, they wanted to share the stage with The Knack and jam. All of this attention soon led to a bidding war between the labels and in the end The Knack signed with Capitol records. Doug Fieger said that one Friday night Bruce Springsteen got up on stage and jammed with the band and the following Monday morning they had 14 offers on the table. Not bad for a band that just a few months prior had seen nothing but rejection.

The Knack with Capitol A&R man Bruce Ravid.

Get The Knack features eleven original songs plus a cover of "Heartbeat," a song originally made famous by Buddy Holly. However, The Knack are actually doing a sped-up version of Humble Pie's cover of "Heartbeat."  Doug Fieger was a huge fan of Steve Marriott and loved their version of the song. Get The Knack opens with probably the best one/two punch in power pop history: "Let Me Out" is a frantic Kinks inspired opener that gives way to the gloriously melodic "Your Number Or Your Name." Other highlights on side one include "Oh Tara," "Maybe Tonight" and "(She's So) Selfish" which was intended as the third single from the album but was scrapped because Capitol wanted the band to record their follow-up album as soon as possible.

"Good Girls Don't" brings side one to an end and is a song that dates back to the early Fieger/Averre demos and would become the bands second-biggest single. Side two opens with "My Sharona" which was released as the lead single from the album and became the fastest-selling debut single for Capitol records since The Beatles' "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and was the biggest selling single of 1979. "My Sharona" hit the number one spot on the Billboard singles chart and remained there for six weeks. "My Sharona" was written about a real person and the real Sharona appears on the picture sleeve of the single. Berton Averre's guitar work throughout Get The Knack is flawless and the solo he put down on "My Sharona" is one of his best. Another early Fieger/Averre demo gets a reworking with the inclusion of "It's What The Little Girls Do" on side two. Many of Fieger's lyrics on Get The Knack were inspired by the real life Sharona Alperin and the albums closer "Frustrated" is no exception, Fieger was infatuated with Sharona but she kept him at arm's length and this song is the ultimate exercise in frustration.  "Frustrated" appeared on the B-side of "My Sharona" but the band felt it was strong enough to be an A-side in it's own right. Get The Knack was produced by Mike Chapman, who is best known for his work with the band Sweet and also producing Nick Gilder and Blondie. The album was recorded in just eleven days with minimal overdubs and a budget of only $17,000. The album seems to effortlessly capture the live energy of the band and is a perfect representation of The Knack in every way .  

The Knack wanted their debut to be a double album but this idea was nixed by the label and the only song not used was an unreleased Bruce Springsteen track "Don't Look Back." Everyone was pleased with The Knack's take of "Don't Look Back" but the Springsteen camp decided that they didn't want the song on the market at that time,  so the track remained unreleased for many years. While The Knack wore their influences firmly on their sleeve and were equal parts Beatles, Kinks, Beach Boys and Buddy Holly, they presented it in a way that had never been done before and delivered a sound that was completely original and clearly The Knack.

Bruce Springsteen on stage with The Knack.

Bruce backstage with The Knack.

Doug Fieger and The Knack created one of the best debut albums of all time and thirty six years later Get The Knack sounds as fresh, exciting and important as the day it was released. The Knack would release several more fantastic records over the years including 1981's Round Trip, 1991's comeback album Serious Fun and 1998's Zoom.  Although the band never quite matched the commercial success of their debut album, Doug Fieger summed things up quite nicely with this quote...

“We’ve already had the success you dream about.  But we’ve never played our music for that. We play it because this is the only worthwhile pop music to make – fun and sad, silly and smart, explosive but sweet, snide but vulnerable. It’s not about being cool but about being goofy and having a great time. We didn’t invent this, but it’s what we do.” – Doug Fieger

"My Sharona" picture sleeve featuring the real Sharona.

Sadly drummer Bruce Gary passed away in August of 2002 after a long battle with lymphoma and Doug Fieger was diagnosed with two brain tumors shortly after Gary's death. Fieger lost his battle with cancer on Valentine's Day 2010. Fieger's passing was a huge blow to the power pop music community and to all that knew him.

Recently Omnivore Records released expanded versions The Knack's last two studio records, Zoom and Normal As The Next Guy both featuring several bonus tracks and in July they will also be re-issuing Live From The Rock ‘n’ Roll Fun House. It seems that after all these years people are still getting The Knack......

Scott Carr is a guitarist who plays in the Columbus, OH  bands Radio Tramps and Returning April. Scott is also an avid collector of vinyl records and works at Lost Weekend Records. So...if you are looking for Scott....you'll either find him in a dimly lit bar playing his guitar or in a record store digging for the holy grail.

Clip from 1975 of Doug Fieger and Berton Averre performing "(Here On This) Lonely Night." Taken from the Omnivore Recordings release by The Knack - Rock & Roll Is Good For You: The Fieger/Averre Demos. Available on CD / Digital & LP on September 11, 2012

Provided to YouTube by Warner Music Group Good Girls Don't (Demo) · The Knack ℗ 2012 Zen Records, under exclusive license to Omnivore Recordings ℗ 2012 Zen Records. All rights reserved. Released on: 2012-09-11 Auto-generated by YouTube.

Provided to YouTube by Warner Music Group That's What The Little Girls Do (Demo) · The Knack ℗ 2012 Zen Records, under exclusive license to Omnivore Recordings ℗ 2012 Zen Records. All rights reserved. Released on: 2012-09-11 Auto-generated by YouTube.

Live performance by The Knack taken from the Zen Records/Omnivore Recordings release of Havin' A Rave-Up! Live In Los Angeles, 1978. Available on CD and Digital Download May 22, 2012.

FROM CARNEGIE HALL , NYC ON 3-18-79. WHERE WERE YOU ?

They were one of the world's most beloved and hated rock bands. Celebrating the 25th anniversary release of their international smash hit, "My Sharona," "Getting The Knack" explores the group's dynamic and often controversial career via candid interviews with the original band, producers Mike Chapman and Jack Douglas, Sharona Alperin, (the inspiration behind their biggest hit), Steve Jones of The Sex Pistols, Rick Springfield, Elliot Easton of The Cars, Devo's Bob Mothersbaugh, comedian Weird Al Yankovic and many more.

Uploaded by Doug Fieger on 2011-06-07.

http://omnivorerecordings.com/artist/the-knack/

From a long lost German TV recording... 1980 Bremen.